Method of clamping and means therefor



1933. s. D. BUTTERWORTH 3 METHOD OF CLAMPING AND MEANS THEREFOR FiledNov. 28, 1930 AT ORNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1933 iJNITED STATES SAMUEL D.BUTTERWORTH, 013 DETROIT,

PATENT OFFICE MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T JOSEPHINE M. I

BUTTERWORTH, 01f DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND C. P. G-ABLE, OF GABLE, SOUTH ICAROLINA METHODOF GLAMIING AND MEANS THEREFOR Application filed November28, 1930. Serial No. 498,704.

' This invention relates to methods and means for clamping compositewooden stock billets for gluing, more particularly for use in gluing thebillets used in making the wooden tile blocks as shown in my Patent No.1,7 36,186, dated November 19,1929. 6

Objects of the invention are to provide methods and means forfacilitating the manufacture of the tile blocks in quantity; to insurethe even distribution and application of pressure to all of the joints;and to shape the blocks accurately and to hold them firmly until theglue has set and hardened. Further objects are to provide means forholding and clamping the billets so that a single hydraulic ram or otherpowerful press can be employed; to provide a clamp comprisingstandardized sections which can be assembled in different ways to holdone or as many blocks as may be desired so that a large number ofdifferent kinds of parts are not involved.

Heretofore it has been customary to clamp the blocks between the twoopposite sides, or to apply pressure directly across the square at ri htangles to the faces in two directions. This requirestwo pressure sourcesortwo operations, and incurs the liability of distortion from applyingmore pressure in one direction than in the other.

In this invention the pressure is applied diagonally, or to oppositecorners of the square section, the pressure being applied throughoppositely disposed right angles, or ninety degree V-shaped holders. Inthis arrangement only one pressure machine is required, distortions areprevented, and the pressure is distributed in all directions throughoutthe section.

For illustrating my invention I have shown an exemplary embodimentthereof in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of the clamping means in position in thepress.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the intermediate clamping member.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of either one of the end clamping membersFig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, taken 0 on a smaller scale.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a billet adapted to be manufactured bymeans of the aforesaid apparatus.

The stock billets 5 are constructed as described in said patent byassembling strips of different cross sectional configuration to form thedesired pattern in the cross-section of the billet. Since the strips arelongitudinally disposed in the billet, and the tile formed by cuttingsections from the end of the billet, the end grain of the wood isexposed in the surface of the finished tile. After the strips are gluedand assembled in the billet, it is necessary to compress and hold thebillet under pressure until the glue has set and become thoroughlydried. Since the joints between the parts of the section run at manydifferent angles, it is obviously necessary to compress the sectionequally from all sides or apply pressure in all'directions.

The clamping means according tothis invention consist of an assemblageof but two difierently shaped members 6 and 7 the X- shaped members 6being used for the intermediate clamping and the members 7 for clampingat the ends. The X-shaped members 6 may be dispensed with entirely, aswill be obvious from the following description, and their place taken bytwo of the members 7 placed in back to back relationship, but forobvious reasons it is more desirable to employ the members 6 whenavailable. 7

The intermediate clamping member 6 consists of two cross arm portions 8and 9, crossed at right angles which provide the op positely disposedpairs of clamping surfaces 10 and 11, forming the two oppositelydisposed !-s. The outer ends of arms 8 and 9 are connected by bracingportions 12 so that heavy pressure can be transmitted through themembers without causing displacement or distortion.

10 and 11. At either side, in the end memher 7, are provided projectingportions 18 having slots 19 for the engagement of the clamping rods 20.Vith clamping members of the two difi'erent shapes 6 and 7, as manybillets may be clamped in a vertical stack or tier as desired, and twoof the clamping members 7 may be employed to clamp a single billet.

Since the billets are sometimes several feet in length, four sets ofclamps are usually employed, one an inch or so back from each end andtwo spaced evenly between the end sets, as shown in Fig. 4:. The stacksare placed on wheel trucks 21 supported on suitable rails 22 and 23,between which is positioned the ram 24 of a hydraulic press 25. Thetruck ,is loaded, wheeled over the press, and the rams are projected tolift the truck, with the stack thereon, and compress the stack againstthe fixed beams 26 constituting the stationary head of the press.

In order to obtain contact over the entire periphery of the block,especially at the corners, the ends of the arms 8, 9, 15 and 16 of theclamping members are notched or cutaway at one side as at 26 so that theends of the arms will interlock and lap over the ends of the arms of theadjacent clamping member. Thus, when the ram 24 is raised, the squaresect-ions are compressed equally from all sides; the pressure iscommunicated equally to all of the blocks; and the opera tion is quicklyand automatically performed. After the billets are compressed, theclamps are locked together by the rods 20, the rods being provided withthreaded nuts 28, at one end for drawing and holding the clampstogether. The ram 24 may then be lowered and the truck 21 with its loadof clamped billets be wheeled away to a suitable storage place until theglue in the billets has had sufficient time to set or dry, after whichthe nuts 28 may be loosened and the clamps removed.

With this arrangement a single pressure means can be employed, thejoints are drawn closely together from all sides, and the billets arefirmly clamped. The clamping members are simple in form and can bereadily assembled on the billets. Accordingly, it will be seen that, bythis invention, the tile blocks, billets or similar articles may bemanufactured with a minimum of time and labor, in any quantity, anduniform results obtained.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the inventiondescribed without departing from the spirit and substance of the broadinvention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

clamping surfaces forming a tier of diagonally aligned squares, andmeans for compressing the stack from the ends thereof to compress all ofthe squares simultaneously.

2. Clamping means comprising an X- shaped intermediate member havingoppositely disposed pairs of angularly related clamping arms, and aV-shaped end member having a single pair of angularly related arms incomplementary and cooperative relation with the arms of the intermediatemember.

3. Clamping means comprising an X- shaped intermediate member havingoppositely disposed pairs of angularly related clamping arms, and aV-shaped end member having a single pair of angularly related arms incomplementary and 'cooperativere lationwith the arms of theintermediatememher, the ends of the members being notched to overlap theadjacent end portions of the other members.

4. Clampingmeans comprising a pair of end members and at least oneintermediate member co-operable therewith, said end members eachcomprising a base portion and opposed arms extending a-ngularlytherefrom, and said intermediate portion comprising a pair of V-shapedelements secured in opposed relationship, and means for connecting saidend members together with said intermediate member between them.

5. The method of forming and adhering composite wood billets whichcomprises applying an adhesive to contacting surfaces of complementaryelongated strips of wood, as sembling the strips into solid billetspolygonal in cross section, stacking said billets in tiers with oppositeapexes aligned, and applying pressure to the sides of said billets alonga line extending through opposite apexes of the billets.

6. Clamping means comprising a stack of clamps having complementaryangular clamping surfaces forming a tier of diagonally aligned squares,and tie rods extending between the outer clamps of said stack in adirection parallel to lines medial of said clamping surfaces forclamping the stacks from the ends thereof to compress all of the squaressimultaneously.

7 Clamping means comprising a pair of end members and at leastoneintermediate member cooperable therewith, said end members eachcomprising a base portion having a fiat surface and opposed armsextending angularly therefrom, lug members projecting in oppositedirections from said arms and disposed in a plane parallel to butinwardly spaced relativeto said flat surface, said in.-

termediate portion comprising. a pair of V- shaped elements secured inopposed relationship, and tie rods engaging said lug members forconnecting said end members together with the intermediate memberbetween said tie rod and between said end members.

SAMUEL D. BUTTERWO TH.

